UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Expresses Concern Over Executions in Iran

Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concern on Friday, August 10, regarding the ongoing executions in Iran, stating that reports indicate that the authorities of the Islamic Republic have executed at least 29 individuals across the country. According to the UN website, Mr. Turk added, "The execution of these individuals in such a short time is very concerning," and noted that 38 individuals were executed in July. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights further stated that the reported number of executions this year has reached at least 345, of which 15 are women. The report indicated that those executed were mainly convicted of drug-related crimes or murder, with nearly half of the executions since the beginning of 2024 being due to drug-related offenses. Mr. Turk also mentioned that there are significant concerns within the UN regarding the non-compliance with legal standards and fair trial rights in many of these cases, with several executions carried out without the knowledge of the prisoners' families or legal counsel. In this context, the execution of Reza Rasayi, a 34-year-old protester from Shahin Shahr in Kermanshah Province and a follower of the Yarsan faith, can be highlighted. The judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic executed Reza Rasayi in the early hours of Tuesday, August 7, without a final visit in the central prison (Dizelabad) of Kermanshah and secretly buried his body without informing his family. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights added that minorities, including Kurds, Ahwazi Arabs, and Baluchis, continue to be disproportionately represented in these executions. He emphasized that the time has come for Iran to join the growing global consensus for the abolition of the death penalty. The latest statistics indicate that the number of executions in Iran has increased unprecedentedly following the election of Masoud Pezeshkian to succeed Ebrahim Raisi; human rights organizations have called for decisive action from the international community in this regard. Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director of the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, stated that "executions by the Islamic Republic are state killings that disregard the right to life and the rule of law and accountability to the global community." He added, "All relevant UN bodies and governments worldwide must disabuse the Islamic Republic of the notion that their horrific killings can occur without consequences; otherwise, these executions will accelerate. Meanwhile, the news agency of the Iranian Human Rights Activists announced on Thursday, August 10, that Branch 39 of the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences of six political prisoners held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad accused of 'baghi'. Currently, several other political prisoners such as Sharifeh Mohammadi, Pakhshan Azizi, and Mojahid Korkor have also been sentenced to death. The Australian Council of Trade Unions stated that the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi is a continuation of the repression of labor activists in Iran. Hengaw reported that since the beginning of 2024, 347 prisoners have been executed in Iran. Four political prisoners in Qazalhasar described the execution of Reza Rasayi as 'the poison of the executioners' on the eve of the anniversary of the 'September Uprising.' The increase in executions in Iran over the past two months has led human rights organizations to call for decisive action from the international community.